First off, let me wish all of you (all of the Dear Readers) out there a very happy new year from The BCPF, 3B and me. I had a great 2017. It was hard, and there is more to come of that, but for the most part, it was a good year. We had some political mess, some job mess, uncertainty and overall scary things, but we had a decent year, all things considered.

One constant this year has been Underdog Records. We went there just about every Saturday of the year and even some off-days. We love it in there. Our collection is growing and not what football season is coming to a close, we can get back to listening to records, not only on Saturdays (and a few during the week) but on Sundays, too. That and open houses. I miss that. Anywhat! Here is the haul for this week:

Underdog Records may or may not open on Tuesday. Call or check their social media channels to get the skinny. Watch their social media on Facebook and Instagram anyway because they always have specials going on. We also use Discogs to keep track of what our collection looks like.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—“When the night has come and the land is dark and the moon is the only light we’ll see. No, I won’t be afraid, no I won’t be afraid just as long as you stand, stand by me.” – “Stand By Me” (King, Leiber, Stoller)

I have no clue who this is other than Davie504. And, that’s okay. I’m a bass player and this is even too much for me, but still, he plays it so well. Here’s a 24-string bass solo. It’s pretty cool, if not excessive.

It was four years ago today that I inadvertently made a decision that would affect my health to this day and beyond. I had gone to McDonald’s that afternoon and for the first (and last) time in a long time, I got a Big Mac. I had wanted one and usually had gotten double cheeseburgers or Royale Quarter Pounder with Cheese from Ronald & Co. It just didn’t taste the way it should’ve or at least what I remembered it tasting like. I just felt crappy after eating it.

For the next few days, I didn’t have any fast food at all. I thought about it here and there but then thought, nah. I’d make other food choices, either eating at home (which at the time was a no-no (I really hate eating at home)) or just better restaurants. I wasn’t consciously making an effort to not have fast food. I just wasn’t. Those days turned into weeks which turned into months. That’s a streak.

If you’ve read this blog for any amount of time, you know that I can’t resist a streak or a list. If I have a list to go through (at least when I enjoy doing the activity), I can broaden my horizons and find things I never knew about. With a streak, I just can’t not do what I have been doing. I mean look at the 90-Day Club at Finnigan’s Wake. I did my 90 days and then decided I had to go more, if for nothing else to beat the only other person that had done it. Then 1,099 days later, I ended a streak that led to a record stood for a few years before someone lost their mind and beat it.

So, after six months in 2013-2014, I realized that I hadn’t been eating fast food and hadn’t been to a fast food restaurant and was pretty amazed at that. After that, it became a determination to stay away. And, in that, it was a bonus because we know that fast food isn’t necessarily the best thing for you. Even before the “streak” happened, I had slacked off from the places that I used to frequent morning, noon and night. Seriously, I used to eat at McDonald’s for breakfast, then lunch, then dinner. Although the doctor said that fast food wasn’t the culprit in my heart problems, I’m sure it didn’t help anything.

Now, I have to clarify: I eat at Subway, Jimmy John’s and the like. I don’t count that as fast food, I count it as deli food. What I call fast food is McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Hardee’s, Taco Bell, KFC, Bojangles, Arby’s, Zaxby’s, and that ilk. Also, it has helped me get through that part about not liking to eat at home. I don’t mind it now. Plus, it has upped my cooking game. It’s something that I’ve gotten more passionate about and something that 3B and I get to do together. In turn, that has ignited a heavy interest from him about cooking and food in general. So, it’s a win-win for me in all facets. Yay me!

And, in closing, I am not advocating for you to not have fast food. I’m all for it, I’m all for you having it, I’ll even take 3B to places and buy him food. I’m not anti-fast food. I’m only saying it’s not for me. I miss it sometimes. Sometimes I would love to stop and have a Baja Gordita from Taco Bell or a Whopper from Burger King or that double cheeseburger from Mickey D’s. So, go have a Big Mac or something and be happy. I just won’t be doing that.

P.s. If I get to go to a real White Castle anytime soon, that streak will be put on hold.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—“There are times, like after a long day of work, when the thought of an easy drive-through is enticing. But then I remember how crappy I felt when I ate fast food in the past, and it inspires me to head to the grocery store or my local farmer’s market and whip up an easy but healthier option.” – Alison Sweeney

I didn’t post them because we were cooking and watching movies, but while we were doing the cooking we listened to something completely different than what I had been all day. For one, we got 3B Straight Outta Compton from N.W.A. for Christmas. It was a double cause, really. I needed it for my Rolling Stone list and he asked for it every time we went in Underdog Records. When that was over, we listened to The Chronic from Dr. Dre. I’ve had that one for a while and since we were listening to one, why not the other since Dre was part of N.W.A. at one time.

Before that, we went to Willows for lunch and hung out for a while.Willows is closing on January 1st for about a month and I’ve been there Tuesday, Wednesday and today. And, we went to Chef Travis’ house for Christmas Day, which was Monday. That’s a lot of Willows. Guess what? I’ll be there tomorrow night, too.

That’s my day. It’s late. I’m on vacation. ‘Night…

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—“It’s like this and like that and like this and a–It’s like that and like this and like that and a–It’s like this and like that and like this and a–Dre, creep to the mic like a phantom” – “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” (Snoop Dogg/D.O.C./Dr. Dre)

I know I mention records and vinyl a lot. I know you’re either tired of hearing/reading about it, or you’re loving it. I personally love it. Being that I’m on week two of my vacation, I get some serious record time. I post most of it on my personalInstagram feed. Not the food one, not the ones for the various podcasts, but my personal one. I have gotten a lot of likes and follows from the vinyl posts. I’m proud of that.

Again, this is my second week of vacation and while I try to do my posts around 350-500 words, not this week. You get what you get! I kid. If I have something major to say, I’ll say it. Just chillax!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—“Vinyl is the real deal. I’ve always felt like until you buy the vinyl record, you don’t really own the album. And it’s not just me or a little pet thing or some kind of retro romantic thing from the past. It is still alive.” – Jack White

So, here it is. The end of the road for the Eugeology Series/Project/Experiment, whichever you want to call it. I’ll offer a retrospective on all of it in the next week or so. Meanwhile, let’s do this one:

Back in entry #4, I predicted there would be a Motörhead album on the list. Well, Eugene kept me in suspense on it until the very last entry. This album is from 1983 and is the only one with former-Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian “Robbo” Robertson. It seemed like it was going to be a great thing until they started recording. Robbo was a bit of a perfectionist. Lemmy didn’t like the amount of time he’d consume trying to get the right take on each track. Lemmy said everyone hated it, too. I don’t know about that.

I know nothing of Motörhead’s songs except “Ace of Spades” which I’m glad isn’t on here. Eug has been telling me about the “genius” that is Motörhead for the whole time I’ve known him and I never understood it. And I still don’t. Every song to me sounds like a big jumbled mess. Because Lemmy keeps so much distortion on his bass you can’t tell what he’s doing. It’s just fast, heavy and messy. Also, Lemmy has two notes he sings and both of them are screamed and seemingly stretched to his full vocal capacity.

I want to say that I like the guitar work of Brian Robertson, but the production is a bit muddy. So much so that even Phil Taylor’s drums are buried in the heap. Now, all that being said, I’m not saying its awful. To Motörhead fans, this is what they’re looking for. And, if I’m grading something on what its supposed to be, then I can’t fault the record. There are a few tunes that I like at least parts of. “Dancing on Your Grave” is pretty good. “I Got Mine” actually has Lemmy stepping outside of his two-note vox box. “Die You Bastard” isn’t too bad, either. I would say my favorite song on the album is “One Track Mind.” I like melodic and that’s about as close as Lemmy and Co. can get, I think.

I don’t really know what to say about this album other than, it’s just not my thing. Motörhead is just not my thing. I’ll probably be told that I don’t understand the spirit of it or the spirit of rock and roll or something. But, I’ll argue that no matter what it is to some, to me, it’s not a pleasure to listen to it. I don’t like it. But, I reiterate, it’s not bad. It’s just not something I want to hear. Perhaps if I was in a bad mood? Nah, probably not. But, Dear Reader, don’t take my word for it, listen to it yourself and you decide your thoughts on it. I do thank you, Eug, for attempting to enlighten me on Motörhead. I probably let you down on it, but I just can’t. Jon, still back at #19, perhaps by this time next year, you’ll have time to catch up?

Let me say, a brand new needle on your turntable makes all the difference in the world! Everything sounds so crisp and amazing. The BCPF and I have been enjoying a long week together observing the 3-Feet Rule (no farther than three feet from each other for most of the vacation). In that, we also went by Underdog Records about four times altogether. It was a great vacay. So, needless to say, this is from all week. Plus, I marked five off of the RS List this week. Let’s get started:

N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton (#144 on the RS List; I really got it for another reason that I won’t say right now, but it’s another off the list; new)

So, a pretty good haul. And, again, with a new needle, it really all sounds great, even the older stuff. Underdog Records is open today until 2pm if you have a last minute thing to grab. He has specials, too. We use Discogs to archive our collection (hence the hyperlinks above).

From The BCPF and me, we hope your Christmas Eve is nothing shy of fantastic. It’s the day we do all the family stuff, traditionally and it’s my favorite of the two-day holiday. Love, happiness and lots of food for you all!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—“Now it’s a mighty long way down the dusty trail. And, the sun burns hot on the cold steel rails. And, I look like a bum, and I crawl like a snail all the way from Memphis.” – “All the Way From Memphis” (Hunter)

I was spending my evening in a car line for the Festival of Lights last night but my buddy Clay Howard was heading a band of all-stars for the latest Friday Night Music Club and the last one at the Garage, as it’s closing its doors next week. But, we can check out Clay’s fantabulous vocal stylings doing some Robert Plant and Zeppelin with my other pal – and sometime bandmate – Chad Huskey and the Muddy Creek Players. I present to you, Kashmir…

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—“Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face and stars fill my dream. I’m a traveler of both time and space. To be where I have been, to sit with elders of the gentle race this world has seldom seen. They talk of days for which they sit and wait. All will be revealed.” – “Kashmir” (Page/Bonham/Plant/Jones)

It is a sad day here at the Scorp household. We are staring at a wall of beautiful vinyl gems and are not listening to them. Our turntable is an Audio-Technica AT‑LP60‑USB. Sure, it’s entry level but it has been a great turntable. We have kind of outgrown it but we can’t really afford a new one. Plus, we’re holding out hope about finding a new house with a “listening room” where we can customize a new audio setup or “audio suite” to reflect our vinyl listening habits. But, as any reader of this blog’s Sunday (or heck most other days) edition or viewer of my personal Instagram feed knows, we listen to a shload of records.

ATN3600L

The turntable was a gift from The BCPF four Christmases ago. The needle on this thing is original, so it has gotten a good bit of wear and tear. We’re over 1200 albums and we’ve listened to about 70% of them, many of them more than once. Again, a shload of listening. We’ve noticed over the last little bit that many of our older records (meaning mostly older than me) have started getting really distorted and distant when we play them, especially in certain tonal registers. New records don’t sound as pristine as they used to, either.

It sounded like the records needed cleaning. Well, again, if you read this blog, I do a lot to clean my records, either with the washing system I have or by using the solution that I make with a painter’s edging tool and microfiber cloth. I took the record one record we were listening to off the platter and cleaned it, again, but it still sounded distorted and distant. So, not that.

I considered it may be the speakers. Perhaps I had blown one? I mean, my hearing isn’t the best anymore and I have to turn it up to hear them. I switched to another input and had Alexa play the same record I was listening to on my Amazon Echo Dot. The music sounded perfectly clear. So, not that (thankfully).

New records, as I said, don’t sound as pristine but they do sound better, so I’m pretty sure it’s not wiring. That just leaves the needle in our minds. Luckily, the cartridge can be changed on the AT‑LP60‑USB and Amazon carries the replacement for under $18. It is Christmas season and we risked getting it with any kind of expediency, but according to Amazon, we should have it tomorrow. That would be great. And, hopefully, that will be what fixes it. But, today, vacation is going to be [mostly] record free. I don’t want to have a dull needle eating into my records. I know, technically, every time you listen you’re basically damaging the record, but I’d rather do it while hearing it as cleanly as possible instead of destroying it.

So, here’s hoping that delivery is right on time because we purchased a few “rekkids” yesterday that we haven’t gotten a chance to listen to, yet. And, tomorrow is, in fact, Saturday and that is our traditional “listening day.” I may freak out if we don’t get to do our “thang.” I’m kidding about that, but I won’t be happy about it.

Until tomorrow, happy listening (if you can)…
Scorp out!

—“I miss the experience of walking into a record store and find old stuff without expecting to.” – Mark Hoppus